16th Annual New Jersey Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
New Jersey's biggest night of the year is finally here!
The New Jersey Hall of Fame Class of 2024 is:
Arts & Letters
Gay Talese, Ocean City, author-journalist
Education & Science|
Elizabeth Coleman White*, Whitesbog, botanist who developed the nation’s first cultivated blueberry
Dr. John Forbes Nash, Jr. */**, Princeton, genius mathematician who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for Economics
Avi Wigderson, Princeton, computer scientist, mathematician, and Turing Award winner, known for his groundbreaking insights in computer science
Enterprise
George Cooney, Bogota, chairman emeritus of EUE/Screen Gems Ltd, a visionary who built industry-leading entertainment service businesses for over 50 years catering to Madison Avenue and Hollywood
Peter Cancro, Point Pleasant Beach, founder of Jersey Mike’s Franchise Systems, Inc., entrepreneur, businessman and philanthropist
Donald Katz, Newark, founder of Audible, Inc., award-winning journalist, and author
Performing Arts & Entertainment
Lesley Gore**,*, Tenafly, singer-songwriter known for top-chart hits including “You Don’t Own Me” and “It’s My Party,” she received an Academy Award nomination for “Out Here On My Own” from the movie FAME and three Grammy Award nominations
Warren Littlefield, Montclair, NBC Entertainment president who oversaw the groundbreaking “Must See TV” lineup, including “Seinfeld”
Paul Rudd**, Passaic, actor who has been nominated for a Golden Globe, two SAG Awards, and won a Critics’ Choice Award
Kevin Smith, Highlands, director, producer, writer, and actor who helmed the Jersey-based comedy Clerks
Meryl Streep**, Basking Ridge and Bernardsville, actress who has won three Academy Awards, eight Golden Globes, is a Kennedy Center Honoree, and received a Presidential Medal of Freedom
Public Service
Father Edwin D. Leahy, Newark, Benedictine monk and Catholic priest, headmaster of St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark
Geraldine Thompson, Red Bank, social reform pioneer and founder of VNA Health Group who earned the nickname “First Lady of New Jersey” due to her philanthropic and social service activities.
Sports
Dick Button, Englewood, two-time Olympic Gold Medalist in figure skating, five consecutive gold medals from the World Championships, and an Emmy Award-winning former TV Sport Commentator
Tim Howard, North Brunswick, former goalkeeper for the United States Men’s National Team, regarded as one of the greatest American players of all time
Ron Johnson*, Summit, All-American running back and captain at the University of Michigan, twice earned All-Pro honors with the New York Giants, inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, and served as chairman of the National Football Foundation
Phil Simms, Franklin Lakes, former New York Giants quarterback, Super Bowl MVP, and sports analyst
Educator of the Year
Andrew DeNicola*, Edison, renowned Grammy Music Educator Award Finalist and American Bandmaster with a celebrated 50-year career, best known as Director of Bands at John P. Stevens High School
Unsung Heroes
Bob Guarasci, Paterson, Founder and CEO of New Jersey Community Development Corporation in Paterson
Reva Foster, Willingboro, Director of Willingboro Township Senior Center
*Being honored posthumously.
**Previous Inductee, but being formally inducted this year.
The 21 Inductees were chosen from 50 nominees after a public vote. The Hall of Fame reserves the right to announce other Inductees at a later time.
